Agency Theory

Autonomous State

A mindset where someone acts independently and makes choices on how they behave. They also take full responsibility for their actions.

Agentic State

A mindset where someone acts on behalf of someone else even if the orders are in conflict with their beliefs. They also displace responsibility on to the authority figure.

Autonomous State

A mindset where someone acts independently and makes choices on how they behave. They also take full responsibility for their actions.

Agentic State

A mindset where someone acts on behalf of someone else even if the orders are in conflict with their beliefs. They also displace responsibility on to the authority figure.

Agentic Shift

The transition from the autonomous state to an agentic state due to the presence of a legitimate authority figure.

Moral Strain

Mental discomfort experienced in an agentic state when someone’s actions are in conflict with their personal moral beliefs.

Binding Factors

Characteristics or factors that lead to the obedience of an authority figure e.g. uniform, consequences and environment

Strength of Agency Theory

I: Supportive evidence from Milgrim’s original study showing 65% of participants obeyed orders from a legitimate authority figure

J: This justifies agency theory as the participants obeyed orders solely because they came from a legitimate authority figure the participants also underwent moral strain, e.g. sweating nervous laughter and seizures.

E: This shows that participants acted against their more beliefs displacing responsibility to the legitimate authority figure as agents. This is proposed by agency theory.

Weakness of Agency Theory

I: it does not explain individual differences leading to obedience and disobedience

J: 35% of participants in Milgram’s original study did not administer the maximum 450 V shock despite being ordered to by a legitimate authority figure.

E: This shows that obedience can vary due to other factors such as personality and gender and is not solely reliant on the presence of a legitimate authority figure suggesting agent theory is not a complete explanation of obedience.